Germany’s World Cup squad have donated £350,000 to help victims of the flooding in the south-eastern region of the country.
The players agreedto divert a chunk of their bonus money for having finished surprise runners-up to Brazil at the finals in Korea and Japan.
The German federation is donating œ1million plus the proceeds of a friendly match to be played early next year, probably in Dresden.
National coach Rudi Voller, who received the national Order of Merit yesterday as a state reward for his efforts, takes a weakened squad back into actiontomorrow against Bulgaria in Sofia.
Oliver Kahn, Jorg Bohme, Torsten Frings, Oliver Neuville and Didi Hamann are among players who have withdrawn through injury. Bayern Munich’s Jens Jeremies will captain Germany in Kahn’s absence.
By Keir Radnedge
